Suction cleaner



Oct. 15, 1940. Q BERG SUCTION CLEANERY Filed Dec. 14, i938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @www 2,521;

ATTORNEY QQBERG sUcTIoN CLEANER Oct. 15, 1940..

Filed Deb. 14, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Que/zien Berg ATTORNEY Patented 15, 1940 I unirse "STATES,

PATENT oFFl-cr-:f:

SUCTION CLEANER Quentin am, canton, omo, minor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Anuman December 14, 193s, semi iva-245,623'

.1 l 7 Claims.

trol mechanism is arranged above the body of the suction cleaner. l

It is an object of the present invention to prolo vide a new and improved suction cleaner.. It yis another object to provide new and improved han- .dle controlling means in a suction cleaner. It is another'object to provide a handle control which is hand operated to control the movement of the handle to different operative positions. Another object is to provide a handle control that is operated by a foot pedal arranged above thebody of the suction cleaner. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon referring to the following speciflcation and claims, and the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a suction cleaner embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a broken elevational view partly in section showing one embodiment of the invention, the handle being arranged in storage position;

Figure 3 is a front sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking detent means; n

Figure is a longitudinal section of another embodiment of the invention; v

Figure 6 is a rear elevational'view partly in section of theconstruction shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 5, and

Figure 8 is an exploded view of the parts constituting the foot operated handle control mechanism. j

One embodiment of -the invention is disclosed -in Figures l to 4 and comprises a suction cleaner having a main casing I0 provided with a nozzle II, and an unshown fan chamber communicating with an exhaust passageway I2. The rear of the exhaust passageway is provided .with avertical flange I3 to which is removably secured a dirt bag I8. The casing. I3 supports an unshown motor enclosed in a lmotor housing I5, and the motor operates an unshown fan to create suction and draw dirt-laden air from the surface being The cleaner is propelled over the surface covv ering being cleaned by means of a handle I3 .pivotally mounted to the body of the cleanerl through being removably clamped in a split socket I3 which is formed with integral side walls 23, 20 spaced apart by substantially the diameter of the 5 handle and joined by a circular top wall 2| and a rear wall 9. The pivotal axis is formed by a pin 22 which extends through the side walls 20 of the handle socket and is carried by the side walls 23,

23 of a bracket 23 rigidlymounted upon the top 10 surface of the exhaust outlet I2. I'he bracket 24 is of substantially U-shape and the opposed side walls 23 thereof are, spaced apart bymeans of a connecting rear wall 25 whichl is suitably secured to the exhaust flange I3. 15

Segment means 23, 23 are formed integrali with the side walls 23 of the handle bracket 24 by forming thereon stops 26 and 2'I which pro.- vide diiferent ranges of handle movement.

Cooperating with the segments 23 is a latch or locking detent plate 33 pivotally mounted upon a pin3I supported in the side walls of the handle socket. The detent plate 3D has its upper end doubled back on itself to provide a sleeve 32 25 which islarranged about the pivot pin 3|, and the lower end of the detent plate isprovided with transversely extending locking detents or pins 33, 33. 'I'he detent plate 33 is pivoted in the handle socket above the pivotal axis of the handle 3o and extends downwardly'from its pivotal axis 3l for engagement with the stops 26 to hold the handle in storage position, and is engageable with the surfaces 34 between the stops 26 and 2 1 to hold the handle in an intermediate operatingv 35 range. andy also rides on the surfaces 35 at the top of the segments 29 to permit movement of the handle in a low operating range. Movement of the handle to its lowest operating position is limited by engagement of the extreme lower end 36 of the handle'socket rear wall 3 with the porv tions 41 on handle bracket 24. The handle is' limited in its upward movement by engagement of the extreme end ofthe socket front wall 2|v with the handle bracket 2t, as best shown in 45 Figure 2. I In order to normally urge the locking detents 33 into engagement with the segments 29, a

spring3'l' is interposed between the front wall 2I of the handle socket and the detent plate 33, the 50 spring 31being supported about a pin 33 mounted on the detent plate 30. A relatively strong spring 33 is disposed along one side of the handle and has one end connected to a' pin 40 extending laterally from the handle socket I9 below the 55 of the spring'isconnectedtoaiug formedon the cleaner casing il. -The spring Il is so arranged below the pivotal axisoi the handle to at all times exert a force to move the handle upwardly to counter-balance the handle weight.

A hand operated mechanism is provided kto operate the detent member 3l 'and comprises a plate 43, its lower end-being adapted to engage a cam I4 which isstruck out of the detent member 3l, 4the actuating plate' 43 being pro'- vided with an elongated opening 45 whereby the plate 43 is slidably mounted with respect to an electric plug 4i having a. portion extending through the opening 45 for Aattachment to the handle socket Il. The springIl urges lthe plate 43 into engagement with-the lower-end of a rod 4s of channel coniiguration which extends upwardly through the handle Il along the rear wall of the latter. A rod 54 is attached to the upper end of the rod 4l and' extends 'into a.

hand grip 5I and is connected to a lever I2 piv-` otally mounted at I3 -in the hand grip Il. A

push button 54 is disposed in the side wall of the hand grip 5i and loosely `receives one end of the lever 52, whereby upon exerting pressure on Athe button I4 the rods lIand 4I and plate 43 are moved downwardly in the handle to ac- L tuate the detent plate 3l to permit movement j of the handle to any operative position.

The hand grip Il is formed of insulating material and comprises atop wall t! and a pair of opposed side walls ll which deilne a recess $1 for receiving the hand operated mechanism. A plurality 'of transverse'ribs Il are arranged in the recess I1 of the hand grip and are provided with slots s for the slidable reception of the rod Il. A cover or bottom plate O0 is removably secured by means ofscrews Si to the body oi the hand grip Il. Disposed in the hand grip .5I is a switch l2 for controlling the supply of current through the conductors to the unshown motor. A hook. is anchored to the. cover plate $0 to support the upper end oi' the cleaner bag I4.

In operation, assume the handle it is in storage position, the locking detenta 8l will then be held in engagement vwith the stops 24 by the spring 21.' In order to lower the handle to a l `convenient operating vangle the operator places his hand in the usual manner about the hand grip Il and moves the plunger I4 into the hand grip Il which causes the lever l2 to rotateon its axis 53 and the rods I! and 4! and plate 43 to move downwardly in the handle, the plate 43 engaging the 'detent plate 20 to pivot it about its axis-3| thus moving the locking detenta 22 out of engagement with the stops 2l whereby the handle can thenv be pivoted downwardly into the` Y working range between the stops 2i and 21.- .The

operator then releases the button 'I4 and the latch spring 21 rotates the detent plate 3l counter-clockwise as viewed in Figure 2, causing the hand operated mechanism to move upwardly in the handle il and the push button B4 to itsnormal position. At the same timethe latch spring 31 urges the locking detenta I3 into sliding en gagement vwith the surfaces 84 between the stops 26 and 21. If the operator desires to use the handle in a lower position, the push button 44 is operated to actuate the latch plate 3l which moves the locking detents l!- out of engagement with the stops 21.4whereby the push button I4 may then be released and the handle pivoted',

downwardly permitting the locking detenta 28 to slide upon the surfaces Si, the handle bespaced arms 23 oi'- the bracket 2 4 which is rigamarsi ing' limited in its downward movement by enengagement with the stops 41 on the handle bracket. Should the operator desire to return the handle to a higher operating range or to storage position, he merely pivots the handle up- 5 idly secured to the cleaner body I0 on the top of the exhaust passageway I2. Formed integrally with the bracket 24 are the segments 2l, 2l

' provided with the stops 26, 21 and 28 deilning therebetween different operating ranges of movement for Vthe handle I8..

Cooperating' with the segments 29 is a latch plate 1l provided at itsv upper. end with anilltegral sleeve 1I pivotally mounted on a pin 'II rigidly secured to the handle socket- I9 above the pivotal axis 22 of the cleaner handle I2.

projecting locking detents 12 for engagement with. the stops 26, 21 and 28 on the segments 2l to 'position the handle in different operating 30 d In order to actuate the latch Aplate 'i0 with respect to the segments 2i afoot operated lever 15 is 4provided and comprises an elongated lever arm 1l terminating in a laterally extending penal 11 whichis adapted w receive the foot or 40.

the operator. The lever 1l is also provided with an offset portion having-spaced',l members tt, It between which an actuating lever arm 1l extends upwardly and is provided with an opening -19 in which is disposed the pivot pin 22, the open- 45 ing 1l being considerably larger than the pivot pin 22. The lever 1l is pivotally supported by means' of a pin 8l extending through the members 6l, one end of the pin being supported in the back wall 2l of the handle bracket 24 and so the other end supported in a plate Il rigidly secured to one of the side walls 23 of the handle supporting bracket 24. A coil spring Il is arranged about the pivot pin 22 and between the actuating lever arm 1l and one of the side walls 55 28 ofthe handle bracket 2 4- and tends at all times to pivot the lever 1l counter-clockwise as viewed in Figure 8, about the pivot pin 8l to urge the foot pedal 11 upwardly into handle locking position. The lever arm 1I of the lever is pm- 60 vided with a cam surface I4 which is adapted to engage a cam surface Il on a cam rigidly secured to the detent plate 'Il to the locking detenta 12 from the segments 2l when the fooi; pedal 11 is depressed. The lever 1l is 65 completely arranged above the cleaner casing Il to provide a convenient location for the foot pedal 11 that is easily contacted by the foot of `the operator. The motor housing Il is provided witha slot as shown in Figure 8, along its marginal 'edge to accommodate the lever arm 1l extending vexterior-1y of the motor housing.

A relative strong spring I1 has one end secured to a pin 8l rigidly attached to a side wall 20 of the handle socket andhas its other 75 The decent plate 1n is provided with laterally end armored to a ruga. formed mV the main casing It. ihe spring .is-arranged below'the pivotallaxis -22 of the'handle and at all `times tends tocounter-balance 'the weight of the 'clean- Y, .er handle- I8.

13. In order to lower the handle to a.conven ient operating angle, the operator ysteps upon the foot pedal 11 thereby pivoting-the lever 12',

about .the pin 8l against the force exerted by the coil spring -83 and causing the lever arm .18 to move to th-right as viewedV in Figure 8,` against the force. of the spring 8l l Movement' of -the lever arm18 with respect to the pivot pin 22 is permitted-due to the relatively large diameter of the opening 19 with. respect to the pivot pin 22. This movement of the lever arm 18 causes 'it toA engage the cam surface l5 on the cam 86 to pivot the' latch plate V10 about its pivot pin' 69 in 'a vclockwise direction. as viewed in Figure vil, to withdraw the locking detents 12 from engagement' with the stops 2t, the handie can'then be pivoteddownwardly into the working range between the stops 26 and 21.' 'Ihe operator then removes his foot from the pedal 11- whereby-the coil spring- 83 'pivots the lever 1Iabout its axis 80 in a. counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 8, causing the lever arm 18 to` move out of engagement lwith cam 85 permitting the locking detentsi'lz to ride upon the surfaces 3i .between .the stops 26 and 21. If the operator desires l.to use the jhandie in a lower operating position, the toot pedal 11 is depressed 'tomove the leverjarm 18 into engagement-with the cam t5 on the latch plate causing the latter to move out of engage-h ment with the stops 21, whereby the handle I8 may be Divoted downwardly at which time the operator removes his foot from the pedal 11 and the lockingdetents: 12 enter the working range between the stops 21 and 28. Should the' operator desire to return the handle to a higher.

operating range or to storage position, he merely pivots the handle upwardlyand the locking detents 12 ride over thecsmmed surfaces 34 and 35 forcing-the latch plate 10 to pivot against the force of the latch spring 13 without the necessity of manipulating the foot pedal 11. From the foregoing, it will be perceived that in both embodiments of the invention the segments and the latch mechanism are completely enclosed within the handle socket, that the motor housing :I5 extends rearwardly to enclose the pivots of the handle, and that in the second embodiment the foot operated lever is arranged at the top of the cleaner casing I0 above .the exhaust passageway I2.

.It is to be understood that the protection herein applied for is not-confined to the particular combinations oi features or elements set out in the following claims. Protection is herein applied for, for any one or more of the features or elements referred to in the following,

claims. or described' in the -foregoing specifications or shown in the accompanying drawings, either independently or in ciunbination.v

I claim:

1. In `a .suction cleaner, a body. handle supporting means mounted on said body. a tubular handle pivoted on said handlesupporting means, a pair oi.' spaced locking segments integral with said handle supporting means and arranged within said tubular handle,.a latch member pivoted in said tubular handle above the pivotalA axis oi' Vthe latter, a pair of locking detents integral with said latch member for engagement with said pair oi'v locking segments, means in said tubular handle for urging said locking .detents into engagement with said segments, and means for moving said latch member out oi engagement with said locking segments to position said tubular handle in different-operative positions. 2..In a suction cleaner, a body, a bailless vtti-- 'bular handle pivoted on saidvbody. locking segment means mounted on saidj body. locking detent means pivoted. in said tubular handle above the pivotal axis oi' the latter forvv engagement with the segment 'means to lock said tubular handle -in diierent operatingV positions, and hand operated handle controlling means comprising an. abutment integral with said detent means, rod n1 ans slidably mounted in said tubular handle and extending from said abutment-to the upper end of said handle, lever means in said handle connected to said rod means, and means connected to said lever means adapted-to be operated by the hand of the'operator for et? fecting movement oi said rod means to abut said abutment and move said detent means out of engagement with said segment means.

3. In a suction cleaner. a body, a pai-r of spaced handleV supporting members mounted on said body and upstanding therefrom. a bailless 11andle having a tubular portion enclosing said spaced members andpivotally mounted on the letter. segment means formed integrally on id spaced members and disposed within the tubular portion of .said handle, a latch member pivoted in opposed walls ofthe tubular portion oi' said handle, a pair of detents formed integrally with said laltch member and engageable withsaid spaced segment means, a spring interposed between a wall of the tubular portion oi said handle and said latch member' to urge said detents into ensagement with said spaced segment means, and means for actuating said detents out of engagement with said spaced segment means to position said handle in diil'eren-t operating posi-tions with respect to said body.

4. In a suction cleaner, a body, a pair oi' spaced handle supporting members mounted on said body and upstanding therefrom, a bailless handle having a tubular portion enclosing said spaced members 'and pivotally mounted on Ithe latter, segment means formed integrally on said spaced members and disposed within fthe tubular portion oi said handle. a latch member, pivoted in opposed walls of the tubular portion oi said handle, a pair of detents formed integrally with said latch member and engageable with said spaced segment means, a spring interposed between a wall of ,the tubular portion oi said handle and said latch member 'to urge said detents into engagement with said spaced segment means. and

hand opratedhandle controlling means entendingy longitudinally through said handle for actuating said latch member to move said detents out of engagement with said spaced segment means to position said handle in diner-ent operating positions with respect to said body.

5. In a suction cleaner. a body, handle supporting means mounted on said body, a bailless tubular handle pivotally mountedl onsaid supporting means. segment means integral with said lhandle supporting -means and enclosed within said bailless tubular handle. detent means pivotally mounted on said bailless tubular handle and enclosed within the leiten-hand operated ably mounted in said bailless tubular handle and extending from said datent means to the upper end of said handle, lever means lx1-said handle andonneotedtosaidmdmeanaandhandaetinted means conneotedto said lever means for effecting movement of said rod means to move said datent means out of engagemem; with said means to posiiion said -handle in diner- `entoperatingpositions. i

6. Ins. suction cleanexgabotwmmoirinssid.

body. a tubular handle pivolted on said body, an electrilconneaor in saddtubular handle for l 4 supplying 'current to said mobor, cooperating `hanme locking means including segmentand det'ent means mounted on said body and handle. handle control means including rod means slidably mounrted in said tubular handle and extending from said locking means to the upper endofsaidhandle.saidrodmeenshavingim elongated opening accommodating said elem-ical connector, said elongated opening permitting. movement of said md means with respeot to said 2,918,101. conirrol means means slldotally mounted on said body, segment means Y mounted on said body. latch means pivoiinlly carried by said handle and engaeeable wit-l1 said segmentlmeans for holding the handle'in adjusted position. rod means disjointed from said lai-,ch

means and extending upwardly in said handle, hand aetuakedmeans connected to said rod means Ibo operate the latter to move said labch meansput o! engagement with said segment means, and a spring -for moving said latch means,

into locking engagement with said segment means-said spring moving said rod means and hand minted means into handle locking tion upon said movement of md latch vmeans into locking enaasem'eni: with said Segment means.

QUnN'rm BERG. p

I' ofthehandlemallo DISCLAIMER Canton, Ohio. SUcnoN CLEANER. Patent dated October 15, 1940. bisclaimer filed January 27, 1.941, by the inventor; the "assignee, 17u Hoover Gompany, consenting. I i Hereby from the sco of claim 2 of seid patent any suction cleaner in which the pivotal axis of the 1 perating positions of the handle, and hereby disclaim claim 7. [Ojcal @am Febmry 18, 19.41.]

detent means 'is notebove the pivotal axis 

